If you think of your desk as a command center, your monitor is the window to your work, so pick a good one, I’ve got an ASUS PA248Q monitor that’s very versatile, you can change the height as well as angle. We opted for the Adobe RGB edition with has a screen resolution of 2560 […]

If you think of your desk as a command center, your monitor is the window to your work, so pick a good one, I’ve got an ASUS PA248Q monitor that’s very versatile, you can change the height as well as angle. We opted for the Adobe RGB edition with has a screen resolution of 2560 x 1440. When setting up your monitor it should be at eye level and about 17 inches from your body. If your monitors aren’t adjustable like my second one, an easy fix is to use books to raise them up. I think they add a bit of flare to your set up.

Keyboard – Mionix Wei Mechanical Keyboard

+

The keyboard and mouse are key to my productive desk set up. We’re all about mechanical keyboards not because gamers think they’re cool but because they stand up to longer abuse help boost your typing accuracy and they just feel better to type on. The Mionix Wei mechanical keyboard has keys that are very nice to the touch and not too loud to type on. I love the light effect, I like rainbow as it shows off the Full RGB backlight, but this means the backlight is on all the time, explosion just lights up while you type and your keyboard isn’t on all the time. The base is solid rubber so there are no accidental shifts if things get a little aggressive while hitting those keys. The key caps are also exchangeable.

I got the pink keycaps but I actually didn’t like them as much as the original keys which are transparent where the letters or numbers appear on the key. This is a much more pleasant effect than solid keys that are darker where the letter or number are, the pink keys just glowed, they didn’t actually show off the colors of the backlight.

Mouse – Mionix Castor

We’ve got a gaming mouse that doesn’t look like a gaming mouse. If however, you are a gamer, the CASTOR will not leave you disappointed, thanks to some excellent design choices on behalf of Mionix. The mouse is relatively lightweight, coming in at about 100 grams and is very comfortable to hold. The button to switch between customizable DPI steps is easily accessible behind the scroll wheel and the 5000 DPI optical sensor is really just a bonus.

The cable does not get in the way when you are gaming and it is very easy to make minor adjustments while gaming since one can easily lift the mouse and reposition it while gaming thanks to the rubber coated left side just below the thumb buttons. All of the buttons are also re-mappable through the stylish Mionix Hub application which also tracks some statistics about your mouse usage.

Being able to set up different profiles actually, increases our productivity through being able to assign editing short cuts to different buttons cuts down on my editing time. If you’re just browsing you’ll be able to use them as a back button to surf with less clicking.

Cable Management Solution – Adam Gravity G1

Cable management is never an easy job and it really makes you look at the fundaments of your set up. My cables have been minimized and hidden for the most part, but since you can always improve I picked up the Gravity G1 magnets from Adam. These were supposed to keep my changing cables in check and in easy reach.

Sadly, they worked best on lightning cables for iPhones, so Android users are for the most part out of luck. One or two on my cables barely hung on so I tried to use them to store USBs on the back of my monitor close to my USB hub. Only old school traditional looking USBs worked, so most of my more svelte looking USBs just didn’t have enough metal to stick.

I also had to replace them multiple times, it’s easy enough you just wet the rubber back. I can’t say that I recommend this product since you’d have to buy it and try it on what you want to stick it to as well as your cables and USBs to know if this solution would work for you. So, I’m still after the perfect cable management set up, but there are some super cool ideas on Pinterest.

Even if most of USBs didn’t stick to the magnets, I do really like having some located in easy reach of my USB 3.0 hub.

USB 3.0 Hub – Anker 10 Port Hub

Anker makes a great 3.0 hub, it’s got 3 ports for quick-charge so that you can take advantage of the speedy top ups that your phone is likely capable of. Also, only fools wait for files to transfer, get rid of all your slow transferring USBs! What makes this hub worth a look is 7 ports offer high-speed data transfer of up to 5Gbps and 3 offers PowerIQ that delivers the offers of up to 2.1 amps per port.

We’ve been long time fans of Ankers products, the build quality is always top notch and they are very detail oriented, that this hub is capable of 60W of power output means that each device is getting maximum power, it’s not being split and diluted slowing the experience.

At first glance it looks like some kind of cubical computer, but it’s actually a very special device. For starters, it happens to be some sort of modular computer. All you need to do is stack your components together at will. For example, you can have the PC module, the DVD/Bluray module and other options […]

At first glance it looks like some kind of cubical computer, but it’s actually a very special device. For starters, it happens to be some sort of modular computer. All you need to do is stack your components together at will.

For example, you can have the PC module, the DVD/Bluray module and other options that will become available in due time. Pretty awesome, right? But here’s the best part – you don’t even need to have a monitor if you get the right module. You can get a module that comes with a projector that shows the image at a 1024×768 resolution.

The device is configurable to your own needs, but it does come with options for both Braswell and Haswell processors. RAM memory can go up to 8 GB, but you will be limited to Intel HD Graphics in terms of the GPU.

Pretty awesome, right? And it even comes with a battery that allows you to use your computer for up to 4 hours. That is more than enough to watch a good movie or direct a long presentation.

There’s still no details on price or availability, but we will keep an open eye on Wibtek to see when we can get our very own Q7 modular computer.

Spacebars are a bit of a dilemma. They serve their purpose and do so very well, but wouldn’t you agree that they are a bit wasteful? They sure are – the spacebar is literally the biggest key in every keyboard (and by much). Don’t you wish it did more than just put a space in between […]

Spacebars are a bit of a dilemma. They serve their purpose and do so very well, but wouldn’t you agree that they are a bit wasteful? They sure are – the spacebar is literally the biggest key in every keyboard (and by much). Don’t you wish it did more than just put a space in between your words?

Synaptics is trying to change the keyboard forever by adding touch functionality to your space key. You heard that right, they want to turn it into a trackpad of sorts, and we are at Computex checking out a demo of this.

They call it SmartBar technology. It allows you do do things like zoom in/out, highlight text, record macros, and more. It’s really quite amazing and leaves us wondering why the hell no one thought of bringing more functionality to the spacebar before. I mean think about it, it’s where our thumbs naturally fall when we are typing. It will make things so much easier!

Now, this is something Synaptics is working to get in the market through its partners, which could be any computer manufacturer. You will pretty much have to get it through your next computer or keyboard maker.

We are not sure how well it will be adopted just yet, but we do know one partner aims to launch the first device with the SmartBar technology by Q4 of 2015. What do you think? Are you considering getting a device with this functionality? Check out the video and let us know in the comments!

We know how hard it can be to get the right external storage. There are so many formats, options and sizes. If what you want is speed an portability, though, you will find there is not much better than Sandisk’s new Extreme SSD drives. We took a look at a couple while roaming the Computex […]

We know how hard it can be to get the right external storage. There are so many formats, options and sizes. If what you want is speed an portability, though, you will find there is not much better than Sandisk’s new Extreme SSD drives.

We took a look at a couple while roaming the Computex 2015 halls. These are the Sandisk Extreme 500 SSD and the Sandisk Extreme 900 SSD. These happen to be super awesome, so let’s take a closer look at them and show you what they are all about.

Sandisk Extreme 500 SSD

This little guy comes in three versions, varying in storage capacity. You can get it with 120 GB, 240 GB or 480 GB of internal storage. They also happen to be incredibly much faster than your average external HDD drives. This thing can read at 415 MB/s, while writing speeds average at about 340 MB/s.

You will also love that this thing is tiny. You can literally throw it in your pocket without a single hassle. I kind of love it, to be honest. And it really has enough capacity to become a main storage device. The rugged-like body should keep your files secure when you are taking it through some rough handling, too.

If you are interested, you can get it for $100, $150 and $250 for the 120 GB, 240 GB and 480 GB versions, accordingly.

Sandisk Extreme 900 SSD

This bad boy is pretty much the Cadillac of external drives. It is elegant, fast, good looking and comes with very good storage capacities. To be exact, you can get it in 480 GB, 960 GB or 1.92 TB configurations.

By the way, this thing is blazing fast. Like… stupid fast. It can both read and write at 850 MB/s. To put that into perspective, that would be about 9 times faster than your usual external hard drives.

The device is also very well built. It uses plastic and metal, making for a sturdy build quality and a design that is very hard to match. Oh, and just in case you are into that sort of thing, this does support USB-C.

The 960 GB version will be priced at $599. A bit high for most users, but those who need the speed and portability will not even think twice about paying that cash.

So we know ARM is working hard on wearables and the IoT, and we have even seen some of their smart accessories in action, but there is much more to work on. Their Sensors to Servers program aims to keep track of whatever you want, with the use of sensors and a system that collects […]

ARM was using a bevy of sensors around their rooms in order to keep track of traffic and activity around its display stations. You could see how many times people passed by a certain area. There’s also a heat map showing which are the most popular demos.

The system keeps track of everything and the user can customize the experience to prioritize and organize the information however it is preferred. ARM tells us you can really use any sensors available, even chemical sensors in the case of scientists. They just happened to use proximity, laser and heat sensors because those where the most applicable to their situation.

I can even see this entering the smart home market. Imagine being able to track where your family spends most of the day, and then you could optimize your house to be much more balanced or productive. It would also be great for businesses that deal with a large quantity of workers. Not even the sky is the limit here.

We have entered the age of connected devices and everyone is trying to be at the forefront of innovation in this market. ARM just couldn’t be absent in this party, and we have already shown you an interview that revolves around the future of wearables and the IoT. It’s all about going small, and ARM […]

It’s all about going small, and ARM is proving they have what it takes by showcasing some very cool smart devices at Computex 2015. In the video below we can see a few examples of what ARM has been working on, including smart hats, vehicle analyzers and even toy robots.

These are pretty cool, to be honest, and they are but the tip of the iceberg. ARM is really just teasing us here, but we wanted to give you a quick look at what was going on behind the scenes. Enjoy!

]]>http://www.mobilegeeks.com/arm-shows-off-its-connected-bluetooth-gadgets/feed/027926Take a walk with us through the Computex 2015 show floorhttp://www.mobilegeeks.com/walk-through-computex-2015-show-floor/
http://www.mobilegeeks.com/walk-through-computex-2015-show-floor/#respondFri, 05 Jun 2015 19:33:12 +0000http://www.mobilegeeks.com/?p=27922

I have always said huge tech conventions feel a bit like those hazy party nights that blur out into small memories of significant events, with no recollection of what happened in between. Computex is certainly not the exception. One moment you are looking at the latest tech gadgets, the next you are taking a picture […]

I have always said huge tech conventions feel a bit like those hazy party nights that blur out into small memories of significant events, with no recollection of what happened in between. Computex is certainly not the exception.

One moment you are looking at the latest tech gadgets, the next you are taking a picture with a booth babe, all of a sudden you are winning an iPod at a raffle, then you are having a drink with your favorite company’s CEO, and then you find yourself playing with a $10,000 gaming machine. And you never quite know how you got from one situation to the next.

I believe it’s something any geek should experience at some point in their lives, but we also know it’s not easy to get in these events without being part of the industry. This is why we decided to give you a small tour of one of the halls at Computex 2015.

Keep in mind this is only one hall (a small one, at that), and you are only seeing about a 10th of it. This event is massive! We take a look at a few manufacturers, booth babes and cosplayers. What else could you ask for? Join us and get a small taste of what Computex really is.

VR is all the hype in 2015. Competitors like Valve and HTC are getting their hands dirty to bring some amazing products to market, but you best bet NVIDIA is not going to stay out of this battle. They are the kings of gaming, after all, and here at Computex 2015 they are showing us a […]

VR is all the hype in 2015. Competitors like Valve and HTC are getting their hands dirty to bring some amazing products to market, but you best bet NVIDIA is not going to stay out of this battle. They are the kings of gaming, after all, and here at Computex 2015 they are showing us a bit of what’s coming.

NVIDIA just announced their GameWorks VR tools, which will help developers create better content for all types of VR headsets. Our demo was based on the Oculus Rift, which just so happens to be optimized for the NVIDIA experience. Boy was it fun!

NVIDIA has created something very similar to the experience the HTC Vive offers. Some sensors allow the device to better recognize your interaction with your environment. Sure, it’s not mapping the whole room and bringing you pin-point precision like HTC’s alternative, but it does give you a fair level of location awareness.

We found some issues with the graphics when really trying to test this technology to its limits, but it sure does better than when you use an Oculus Rift by itself. It’s really hard to explain such an experience with words, but take a look at the video and you will get an idea of the awesomeness that virtual reality is building up to be.

Computex has taken off and that can only mean one thing: we are getting you all the content we can find. We are taking things a bit further this time around, though. We are bringing you live coverage straight from the show floor! That’s right. You will get to experience announcements, hands-on experience, interviews and […]

Computex has taken off and that can only mean one thing: we are getting you all the content we can find. We are taking things a bit further this time around, though. We are bringing you live coverage straight from the show floor!

That’s right. You will get to experience announcements, hands-on experience, interviews and more… all live and direct. Today is our first day live streaming, so you are in for a treat. The video is embedded right below and you can tune in starting at 9 PM Taipei time (11 AM Pacific) today, June 2nd.

Mobile Geeks Live Stream times

Taipei: 930PM – 12

Berlin: 330PM – 8PM

New York: 9AM – 12PM

San Fransico: 1230AM to 3PM

We have more than enough content to throw around, so make sure to enjoy this tech madness and geek out in the comments with us. And remember, we have a couple more days of live streaming to go after this, so keep coming back!

And don’t forget to let us know if you have any questions or there is anything you would like us to touch base on.

Small computers are all the hype at Computex 2015. We have seen plenty of them, but ASRock is trying to target the geeks with the BeeBox NUC (Next Unit of Computing). What makes this device special is that it’s small, good-looking, powerful enough, customizable and, best of all, cheap. The ASRock BeeBox will feature Intel’s […]

Small computers are all the hype at Computex 2015. We have seen plenty of them, but ASRock is trying to target the geeks with the BeeBox NUC (Next Unit of Computing). What makes this device special is that it’s small, good-looking, powerful enough, customizable and, best of all, cheap.

The ASRock BeeBox will feature Intel’s new-generation Braswell processors. What makes them “geeky” is that ASRock is giving you the option to get the device in multiple configurations. You can even get the “bare bones” version for as low as $140 USD, which will pretty much come without RAM or a hard drive.

You will be able to install your own RAM (up to 8 GB), hard drive (2.5 mSATA or M2 SATA) and your favorite OS. You can also opt for full systems with, or without, an operating system. You really have the freedom to go anyway you want here.

The device itself is quite small, so it should make for a great HTPC (home theater PC) or casual computer. It measures in at 11×11.85×4.6 cm and comes with a bevy of ports that will leave you desiring nothing. It has a USB 3.0 port, a USB-C port, a 3.5 mm headset jack and an IR receiver. On the back there’s 2 HDMI ports, a DisplayPort connection, another 2 USB 3.0 ports, a LAN port and a Kensington lock entrance.

The box is great and comes with everything you need to put a pretty capable system together. What do you say? Interested? It should actually be a great alternative for everyone. There’s options for those that just want something to work out-of-the box, those who want to put their own system together and those who want to install their own OS. And with that low price, you really can’t go wrong.